London Southend Airport has become the latest to secure a High Court injunction to stop would-be environmental protesters trespassing on its land.
Several others have gained similar orders in recent weeks to protect against protests by groups including Just Stop Oil (JSO).
Lawyers for the Essex site told a hearing on Wednesday that it was a 鈥渟ignificant and busy international airport鈥 that 鈥渞emains exposed鈥 to the risk of 鈥渄irect action demonstrations鈥, by being 鈥渙ne of very few significant English airports鈥 not to have an injunction.
鈥淭his is unlikely to have escaped the attention of JSO activists and therefore exacerbates the risk faced by this airport.鈥
Since late June, several other airports have sought the court鈥檚 protection, including Stansted, Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle.
No members of JSO or any other protest group attended Wednesday鈥檚 hearing and were not represented.
Mr Roscoe said that the airport was 鈥渁n attractive target鈥 for protesters because of its 鈥渟trategic status鈥 and the layout of the site, which make it 鈥渧ulnerable鈥.
The court in London was told that JSO said in July this year that its supporters 鈥渨ill be taking action at airports this summer鈥, including protesters cutting through airport fences, gluing themselves to runways and staging sit-ins at terminals.
Mr Roscoe said that while the group said on August 7 that it would pause its activities because of 鈥渞ecent nationwide civil unrest鈥, it had indicated a 鈥渃lear intention to resume direct action activities鈥.
Four JSO supporters were arrested near Manchester Airport on August 5, the barrister said.
The court also heard that JSO had targeted London Southend in November 2021, when 12 activists entered the terminal with three oil drums, 鈥渄isrupting the airport at large鈥.
Mrs Justice Farbey granted the injunction, saying it was 鈥渘o more than is necessary and proportionate鈥 and that further protests could cause 鈥渟ignificant disruption鈥.
She said: 鈥淚t is very likely that the anticipated actions of the protesters would substantially interfere with the claimants鈥 operation of the airport as a whole.鈥
The measure will last for five years and be reviewed in 12 months.
After the ruling, a spokesman for London Southend said: 鈥淎s the quick and easy airport gateway to Europe for people living to the east of London and in south-east England, this High Court injunction was acquired to minimise any potential risk of disruption to people choosing to fly from London Southend.
鈥淧assengers heading off on a well-earned summer holiday or an overdue visit to friends and family can be assured that London Southend has taken every possible step to ensure smooth travel.
鈥淎ligned with the UK aviation industry, we are committed to working towards achieving a net zero future.鈥
